diff --git a/tonic/__init__.py b/tonic/__init__.py
index 0ab7d7f9..26a0fa7b 100644
--- a/tonic/__init__.py
+++ b/tonic/__init__.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 from pbr.version import VersionInfo
 
-from . import collation, datasets, io, prototype, slicers, transforms, utils
+from . import collation, datasets, io, slicers, transforms, utils
 from .cached_dataset import CachedDataset, DiskCachedDataset, MemoryCachedDataset
 from .dataset import Dataset
 from .sliced_dataset import SlicedDataset
 
+try:
+    from . import prototype
+except (ImportError, NameError):
+    pass
+
 all = "__version__"
 __version__ = VersionInfo("tonic").release_string()